UPSC ESE Prelims 2022 (Available) Question Paper Analysis: Check Difficulty Level, Weightage, Expert Answer Key

Vaibhav Bansal

Updated On: February 20, 2022 08:52 pm IST

UPSC ESE 2022 Prelims has been conducted on February 20. Check the detailed question paper analysis and unofficial answer key of UPSC ESE Prelims 2022 Paper-1 and Paper-2 here. 

UPSC ESE Prelims Analysis

UPSC ESE 2022 Prelims exam has been conducted on February 20. The Prelims Paper 1 of the ESE exam consists of questions from General Studies and Engineering Aptitude. After this year's exam, the candidates can check the detailed exam analysis of Prelims Paper 1 and Paper 2 ESE 2022 exam along with the unofficial answer key released by various coaching centers. The exam analysis mentioned below is prepared on the basis of students and experts feedback.

UPSC ESE Prelims 2022 Paper 1 Question Paper Analysis

Highlights

  • ESE Paper 1's overall difficulty level was Moderate to Difficult.
  • ESE this year consisted primarily of theoretical problems.
  • In comparison to prior years, there were far fewer assertion and reasoning questions, with only four being asked in the exam.
  • In the exam, a new sort of question, a passage type question, was asked.
  • The framework of the paper was fairly similar to that of the previous year's paper.
  • Current Affairs, Reasoning & Aptitude, and Engineering Mathematics bore maximum weightage i.e. 15 marks, 15 marks, and 14 marks respectively.

Aspect

Analysis

Overall Difficulty Level of General Studies & Engineering Aptitude

Moderate to Difficult

Expected No. of Good Attempts

80-90

Topics with Maximum Weightage

Current Affairs, Reasoning & Aptitude, and Engineering Mathematics, 

Difficulty Level Comparison 2022 vs 2021

Paper 1 had a similar difficulty level as that of last year.

UPSC ESE Prelims 2022 Paper 1 Topic-Wise Weightage

Name of the Topic

Total No. of Questions in 2021

Total No. of Questions in 2022

Current Issues of National & International Importance

18

15

Reasoning & Aptitude

15

15

Engineering Mathematics & Numerical Analysis

15

14

General Principles of Design, Drawing & Importance of Safety

7

10

Standard & Quality Practices

7

5

Basics of Energy & Environment

5

8

Basics of Project Management

4

8

Basics of Material Science & Engineering

9

6

Information & Communication Technologies (ICT)

10

10

Ethics & Values in Engineering Profession

10

9

UPSC ESE Prelims 2022 Paper 2 Question Paper Analysis

Aspect

Analysis

Difficulty Level of Mechanical Engineering

Moderate to Difficult

Difficulty Level of Electrical Engineering

Moderate to Difficult

Difficulty Level of Civil Engineering

Easy to Moderate

Difficulty Level of Electronics Engineering

Moderate

Expected No. of Good Attempts

Civil Engineering: 110-120

Electrical Engineering: 90-100

Electronics Engineering: 100-110

Mechanical Engineering: 90-100

Difficulty Level Comparison 2022 vs 2021

Civil Engineering: Easier

Electrical Engineering: Easier

Electronics Engineering: More Difficult

Mechanical Engineering: Similar

UPSC ESE Prelims 2022 Paper 2 Topic-Wise Analysis for Civil Engineering

Highlights

  • It was a Easy to Moderate Paper.
  • In comparison to last year's paper, the level of question difficulty was lower.
  • There were very less questions from OCF, Englineering Hydrology, and Railway, Airport & Tunnelling.
  • Topics like Strength of Materials, Soil Mechanics, Design of Steel Structures, Design of Concrete Structures, and Environmental Engineering held the highest weightage.
  • Topics like Irrigation Engineering and Design of Steel Structures were especially difficult.
  • There were more theoretical problems than numerical questions.
  • No. of good attempts fall between 110-120 questions.

Subjects

No. of Questions in 2021

No. of Questions in 2022

Building Materials

15

11

Strength of Materials

18

14

Structural Analysis

06

9

Design of Steel Structures

13

14

RCC & Prestress Concrete

10

16

Construction Practice, Planning & Management

12

12

Fluid & Hydraulic Machines + OCF

12

14 + 1

Engineering Hydrology

02

2

Irrigation Engineering

08

11

Environmental Engineering

13

12

Geotechnical Engineering

14

12

Surveying and Geology

13

11

Transportation Engineering

06

10

Railway Engineering

08

1

TOTAL

150

150

UPSC ESE Prelims 2022 Paper 2 Topic-Wise Analysis for Electrical Engineering

Highlights

  • It was a Moderately Difficult Paper.
  • In comparison to last year's paper, the level of question difficulty was lower.
  • In the field of digital electronics, there were no questions.
  • In the EMFT and microcomputer, there were fewer questions.
  •  Engineering mathematics section was difficult.
  • There were 6 questions of the statement type.
  • There were more theoretical problems than numerical questions.
  • There were no match the pairs questions.
  • No. of good attempts fall between 90-100 questions.

Subject 

No. Of Questions in 2021

No. Of Questions in 2022

Digital Electronics

2

0

Communication Systems

11

11

Measurements

13

12

Power Electronics

9

13

Basic Electronics Engineering

6

8

Electromagnetic Fields

2

2

Power Systems

12

11

Electrical Machines

17

13

Electrical Materials

14

13

Microprocessors

4

1

Control Systems

12

12

Signals and Systems

8

12

Analog Electronics

9

8

Computer Fundamentals

6

11

Engineering Mathematics

15

12

TOTAL

150

150

UPSC ESE Prelims 2022 Paper 2 Topic-Wise Analysis for Electronics Engineering

Highlights

  • It was a paper of Moderate difficulty level.
  • In comparison to last year's paper, the level of question difficulty was a bit difficult.
  • Topics like Advanced Communication, Material Science, Digital Circuits, Electromagnetic Field Theory, and Networks had the maximum weightage of between 12 to 16 questions.
  • Only Basic Electrical Engineering was difficult in nature with a moderate weightage of 10 questions.
  • No. of good attempts fall between 100-110 questions.

Subjects

No. of Questions in 2021

No. of Questions in 2022

Materials Science

10

14

Electronic Devices and Circuits

2

-

Analog Circuits

12

1

Network Theory

20

12

Control Systems

11

14

Electromagnetic Theory

11

13
Electronic Measurements and Instrumentation

12

12

Communication Systems

16

11

Advance Communications

10

16

Advance Electronics

5

8

Basic Electrical Engineering

8

10

Computer Organization & Architecture

11

11

Signals and Systems

9

-

Digital Circuits

9

15

Microprocessors

4

4

TOTAL

150

150

UPSC ESE Prelims 2022 Paper 2 Topic-Wise Analysis for Mechanical Engineering

Highlights

  • It was a Moderately Difficult Paper.
  • In comparison to last year's paper, the level of question difficulty was similar.
  • Topics like Fluid Mechanics & Machinery and Manufacturing and Engineering Materials took the highest weightage at 23 and 20 questions respectively.
  • Both of these topics along with Machine Design and Mechatronics & Robotics were tough in nature.
  • No. of good attempts fall between 90-100 questions.

Subject 

No. Of Questions in 2021

No. Of Questions in 2022

Heat Transfer

3

12

Fluid Mechanics and Machines

23

23

Thermodynamics

12

5

Industrial Engineering

5

4

Engineering Mechanics

5

4

Mechatronics and Robotics

12

12

IC Engine

7

1

Power Plant

14

14
Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning

6

9

Renewable Source of Energy

12

12

Strength of Materials

9

10

Machine Design

11

11

Theory of Machines & vibrations

13

13
Manufacturing & Engineering Materials

18

20

TOTAL

150

150

UPSC ESE Prelims 2022 Experts Answer Key (Unofficial)

We will update the UPSC ESE 2022 Prelims unofficial answer key released by different coaching institutes on February 20. The PDF to download the answer key along with the question paper will be updated here.

UPSC ESE 2022 Prelims Paper 1 Question Paper and Answer Key

  • To be Notified

UPSC ESE 2022 Prelims Paper 2 Mechanical Engineering Question Paper and Answer Key

  • To be Notified

UPSC ESE 2022 Prelims Paper 2 Electrical Engineering Question Paper and Answer Key

  • To be Notified

UPSC ESE 2022 Prelims Paper 2 Civil Engineering Question Paper and Answer Key

  • To be Notified

UPSC ESE 2022 Prelims Paper 2 Electronics Engineering Question Paper and Answer Key

  • To be Notified

The above answer key is tentative, and the candidates can use it as a basic reference.

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